Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Vantage Venues, 150 King St W, 16th floor, Toronto. Room: Garden Hall
ETFs NOW brings together Canada's leading ETF providers, portfolio strategists and industry experts to examine the trends reshaping ETF investing. Learn practical approaches to portfolio construction, active and passive investing, product innovation, income strategies and the evolving regulatory landscape through expert presentations, panel discussions and networking.
ETFs NOW
Advisor Learning Series
ETFs NOW is a conference for Canadian financial advisors exploring the opportunities and challenges shaping today's ETF market. Through keynote presentations, expert panels and fireside chats, attendees will gain practical insights into portfolio construction, active and passive investing, income strategies, product innovation and the growing role of ETFs alongside mutual funds, alternatives and other investment vehicles. Sessions will also examine capital markets, evolving client needs, total cost reporting (CRM3) and the rapid pace of product development. Designed for advisors seeking actionable ideas rather than product pitches, the event offers timely education, expert perspectives and valuable networking with industry leaders.
What You’ll Gain
In-depth knowledge of ETFs
Value-filled sessions on how to best utilize ETFs
Receive up to 4 CE credits from CIRO Cycle 11 (CIRO-ID and CIRO-MFD) and up to 4 credits from FP Canada
Your In-Person Benefits Include
Networking with 150+ professionals, including money managers, fellow advisors and financial journalists from Advisor.ca and Investment Executive
Access to leading ETF professionals
Breakfast, lunch and refreshments
Industry Leaders
Kevin Press
Editorial Director
Advisor.ca and Investment Executive
Kevin Press has reported on, and worked in, Canadian financial services for three decades.
Alisha Hiyate
Managing Editor
Investment Executive and Advisor.ca
Alisha has more than 20 years of journalism experience spanning financial services, capital markets and the mining industry.
Karl Cheong, CFA
Executive Vice President
Head of ETFs, Ninepoint Partners
Karl Cheong, CFA, is Executive Vice President and Head of ETFs at Ninepoint Partners, bringing more than 20 years of experience building innovative ETF platforms and helping advance Canada’s ETF industry.
Michael Dayan, CFA
Vice President, Portfolio Manager
Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions
Michael Dayan is a portfolio manager with Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions where he co-manages the Franklin Quotential, Franklin LifeSmart, and Franklin ETF Portfolios.
Rudy Luukko
Investment Journalist
Rudy Luukko is a veteran investment journalist and fundwatcher who has covered ETFs and mutual funds since the early 1990s.
Bipan Rai
Managing Director, Head of ETF &
Alternatives Strategy, BMO Global Asset Management
Bipan Rai joined BMO Global Asset Management in 2024 and currently serves as Head of ETF Strategy, delivering strategic research for the ETF and Structured Solutions team.
Nathan W. Thooft
CFA, Chief Investment Officer, Senior Portfolio Manager
Multi-Asset Solutions Team, Manulife Investment Management
Nathan is Chief Investment Officer of Manulife’s Multi-Asset Solutions Team, leading the firm’s asset allocation strategies and multi-asset investment decision-making across global markets.
Mark Verrilli
ETF Strategist, Fidelity investments
Mark Verrilli is an ETF Strategist at Fidelity Investments, focused on helping advisors navigate Canada’s evolving ETF landscape.
Eli Yufest
Executive Director,
Canadian ETF Association (CETFA)
Eli Yufest is the executive director of the Canadian ETF Association, where he drives initiatives that strengthen Canada's ETF ecosystem.
Kevin Press
Editorial Director
Advisor.ca and Investment Executive
Biography
Kevin Press has reported on, and worked in, Canadian financial services for three decades. He was a founding editor of Advisor's Edge, Advisor.ca's print predecessor. He covered institutional investment as Editor of Benefits Canada. And he spent 18 years working in the industry before returning to journalism in 2024.
Kevin is host of the Canadian Advisor.cast.
Alisha Hiyate
Managing editor
Investment Executive and Advisor.ca
Biography
Alisha has more than 20 years of journalism experience spanning financial services, capital markets and the mining industry. She joined the team at Investment Executive and Advisor.ca in 2024.
Karl Cheong, CFA
Executive Vice President
Head of ETFs, Ninepoint Partners
Biography
Karl Cheong is a veteran ETF leader with over 20 years of experience advancing innovation and asset growth in Canada's investment landscape. As Head of ETFs at Ninepoint Partners, Karl is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the firm’s ETF platform, driving product development, positioning, and growth.
Throughout his career, Karl has helped raise billions in ETF assets and contributed to the success of several first-to-market products in Canada. He was part of the early team at Claymore Investments (acquired by BlackRock) and later held a senior role at First Trust, where he supported the expansion of their ETF footprint nationwide. Karl was also part of the original working group that founded the Canadian ETF Association, helping establish the industry’s collective voice and standards.
He has shared insights on investment trends through appearances on BNN Bloomberg and in publications such as The Financial Post, Globe & Mail, and Morningstar. Wealth Professional named him an “Industry Icon” for his contributions to the ETF space.
Karl is a CFA® charterholder and fluent in English and French. He is a former Board Director of the Toronto CFA Society and currently serves as Treasurer and Trustee at St. Paul’s Bloor Street Church.
Michael Dayan, CFA
Vice President, Portfolio Manager
Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions
Biography
Michael Dayan is a portfolio manager with Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions where he co-manages the Franklin Quotential, Franklin LifeSmart, and Franklin ETF Portfolios. In addition to his portfolio management responsibilities he plays an active role in the firm’s multi-asset investment process contributing to research and analysis that support global investment strategies.
Since joining Franklin Templeton in 2012 Mr. Dayan has provided strategic support to portfolio management teams around the world with expertise spanning portfolio construction, risk management, and trading across retail, institutional, and model portfolios.
Mr. Dayan holds a bachelor of commerce with a major in finance from York University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
Rudy Luukko
Investment journalist
Biography
Rudy Luukko is a veteran investment journalist and fundwatcher who has covered ETFs and mutual funds since the early 1990s. A former editor of Morningstar Canada, he has written for numerous general interest, financial and institutional publications and is a current contributor to Investment Executive and Finance et Investissement. He is also a contributing editor of the Internet Wealth Builder and The Income Investor newsletters. A past winner of the PMAC Award for Excellence in Investment Journalism, he now serves on the awards jury. He is a bachelor of journalism graduate of Carleton University and holds a Certified Investment Manager (CIM) designation.
Bipan Rai
Managing Director, Head of ETF &
Alternatives Strategy, BMO Global Asset Management
Biography
Bipan Rai joined BMO Global Asset Management in 2024 and currently serves as Head of ETF Strategy, delivering strategic research for the ETF and Structured Solutions team. He is highly regarded for his macroeconomic insights as well as his knowledge of market structure for various asset classes. His focus is on fundamental macro research and the implications for the ETF marketplace, including economic, monetary and fiscal policy analysis alongside developments in funding and liquidity. Prior to joining BMO GAM, Bipan spent 13 years as a top-ranked strategist at a large Canadian dealer. He has won several awards for his research from various publications (Greenwich Survey, Bloomberg) and is a regular contributor to global business media outlets (BNN/Bloomberg, CNBC, WSJ). He holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a Bachelor of Engineering degree (Aerospace Engineering) from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Nathan W. Thooft
CFA, Chief Investment Officer, Senior Portfolio Manager
Multi-Asset Solutions Team, Manulife Investment Management
Biography
Nathan is chief investment officer of the firm’s multi-asset solutions team (MAST). He’s the lead portfolio manager on a range of multi-asset and asset allocation strategies and leads the investment decision-making process as well as the development and growth of the firm’s multi-asset solutions. During his time with Manulife, Nathan has served in many senior asset allocation and research roles spanning Canada, Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Mark Verrilli
ETF Strategist, Fidelity investments
Biography
Mark Verrilli is an ETF Strategist at Fidelity Investments. He focuses on Canada’s evolving ETF landscape and works closely with the Quantitative Index Solutions team, the architects behind the firm’s factor-based ETFs, to articulate portfolio positioning and strategy.
Mark partners with advisors across the country, providing insights on ETF trends and helping inform portfolio construction decisions. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Eli Yufest
Executive Director,
Canadian ETF Association (CETFA)
Biography
Eli Yufest is the executive director of the Canadian ETF Association (CETFA), a leading voice on issues shaping the future of Canada's investment industry. Yufest is responsible for CETFA’s strategic vision, advocacy, government relations, member engagement and overall operations. Working closely with the board of directors, governments, regulators and industry leaders, he drives initiatives that strengthen Canada's ETF ecosystem, enhance the competitiveness of Canadian capital markets and advance policies that benefit investors. Yufest is a frequent media commentator and speaker on ETFs, capital markets and public policy, and outside of his role at CETFA, he is also a part-time professor of business and marketing.
Event Agenda
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 · Vantage Venues, 150 King St W, Toronto
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Registration & Breakfast
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Opening Remarks
Presented by: Kevin Press, Editorial Director, Advisor.ca and Investment Executive
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Opening Keynote: to be announced
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Gold Sponsor session: to be announced
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Networking Break (Coffee, Breakfast Pastries)
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Rethinking Core: Building portfolios for changing markets
For years, portfolio construction has leaned heavily on passive ETFs. But in today's more volatile and less predictable markets, is a "set-it-and-forget-it" approach still enough? Active ETFs are challenging the status quo, giving advisors tools to respond to changing market conditions, manage risk more deliberately, and uncover opportunities broad benchmarks can miss. At the same time, active asset allocation ETFs are redefining what portfolio construction can look like.
In this session, Nate Thooft, CIO, Multi-Asset Solutions team (MAST) will share the outlook and asset class return forecasts from his team, providing insight into today's market environment and the rationale behind portfolio positioning. Advisors will gain a deeper understanding of how strategic asset allocation, ongoing portfolio oversight, and tactical decision-making work together to drive outcomes over time. Learn how the combination of active management and ETF efficiency is reshaping what "core" investing looks like.
Presented by:
Nathan W. Thooft, CFA, Chief Investment Officer, Senior Portfolio Manager, Multi-Asset Solutions Team, Manulife Investment Management -
From Asset Allocation to Implementation: Portfolio ideas for today's advisor
Successful portfolio construction requires more than selecting individual investments—it demands a disciplined framework for allocating risk and capital across changing market environments. This session examines practical portfolio strategies used by advisors today, including diversification approaches, income generation, managing concentration risk and incorporating new sources of return.
Presented by:
Bipan Rai, Managing Director, Head of ETF & Alternatives Strategy, BMO Global Asset Management
Michael Dayan, CFA, Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions -
Speaker-Hosted Buffet Lunch + Catching Up with CETFA
Join one of our speaker-hosted tables for lunch and continue the conversation in a smaller group setting. See more details below.
Eli Yufest, Executive Director of the Canadian ETF Association, will share an update on regulatory priorities and his advocacy work, including the implications of Total Cost Reporting and cross-border ETF investing. This session will also explore Canadian investors' perspectives on ETFs and how advisors can use those insights to best serve their clients. How are investors selecting products? What's their take on the ETF value proposition? And how can advisors meet the growing demand for guidance in an increasingly complex product landscape?
Presented by:
Eli Yufest, Executive Director, Canadian ETF Association (CETFA) -
The Next Generation of ETF Investing
Canada's ETF market continues to evolve at a remarkable pace, with new products giving advisors access to active management, enhanced income strategies, alternative investments, thematic exposures and increasingly sophisticated portfolio tools. But greater choice also demands greater due diligence. This session explores the trends reshaping ETF investing, how advisors should evaluate new products and structures, and where active ETFs may add value alongside passive strategies. Panelists will discuss practical approaches to assessing liquidity, fees, tax efficiency and portfolio fit while helping advisors match new structures to client objectives.
Presented by:
Karl Cheong, CFA, Executive Vice President, Head of ETFs, Ninepoint Partners
Mark Verrilli, ETF Strategist, Fidelity investments -
Peak ETF: Product innovation in a red-hot market
The ETF industry has entered a new era of rapid proliferation, with record product launches, increasingly sophisticated strategies and a growing wave of U.S. entrants reshaping the Canadian market. Veteran financial journalist and ETF watcher Rudy Luukko will explore what this surge in innovation means for advisors, separating meaningful product evolution from unnecessary complexity. Drawing on decades of experience covering the industry's evolution, he'll examine how competition is changing the ETF landscape, the challenges of evaluating an ever-expanding product shelf and the implications for portfolio construction, compliance and client outcomes. Attendees will gain practical context for navigating today's increasingly crowded ETF marketplace.
Presented by:
Rudy Luukko, Investment Journalist -
Closing Keynote: to be announced
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Closing Remarks
Our Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Manulife Investments
Explore Manulife ETFs—actively managed investment solutions designed to help investors pursue growth, income, and diversification across global markets. Discover our ETF lineup and learn how our strategies can help achieve investment goals.
RBC iShares
The RBC iShares alliance, formed in 2019, includes RBC ETFs managed by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. and iShares ETFs managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. The RBC iShares alliance provides the largest suite of ETFs to Canadians1, and leverages the combined investment expertise of Canada’s largest asset manager2 and BlackRock’s global ETF platform to help advisors build efficient portfolios that meet the needs of their clients.
1 The RBC iShares alliance has the highest combined AUM and number of ETFs in Canada. Source: Securities and Investment Management Association (SIMA). As of March 31, 2026.
2 Source: Securities and Investment Management (SIMA), Investor Economics, RBC GAM. As of April 30, 2026.
Silver Sponsors
BMO Global Asset Management
Backed by a 200-year legacy of BMO Financial Group, we bring an agile, forward-thinking approach to deliver market insights and access to investment solutions for Canadian investors. In a world of rapid market shifts, we aim to support our clients by providing access to the wide variety of products, including mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments, designed to meet the varied needs of Canadian investors. We also provide in-depth market commentary to help our clients navigate the evolving financial landscape with confidence.
Fidelity
Fidelity Investments Canada is a leading investment management firm offering a wide range of mutual funds, ETFs, managed solutions, alternatives, and institutional mandates. Founded in 1987 and based in Toronto, it manages hundreds of billions in assets for more than 2.1 million Canadians. With deep research capabilities and a global team of investment professionals, Fidelity provides diverse equity and income strategies along with tools, education, and advisor resources to help Canadians build and manage their wealth.
Franklin Templeton
Franklin Templeton. Your trusted partner for what’s ahead™
At Franklin Templeton, we believe success requires more than just expertise – it demands powerful partnerships. As a forward-thinking asset manager, we build dynamic relationships to understand your goals and navigate complex markets together. Leveraging cutting-edge strategies and deep industry insights, we unlock opportunities to help grow wealth. With Franklin Templeton by your side, you’re not just preparing for the future – you’re shaping it.
Ninepoint Partners
Ninepoint Partners was created in 2002 at the initiative of Power Corporation of Canada, a major investor in Europe and North America.
Based in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners LP is one of Canada’s leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $8.2 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies spanning Equities, Fixed Income, Alternative Income, Real Assets, F/X and Digital Assets.
Earn Continuing Education Credits
This event qualifies for professional development credits.
Accreditation Details
- Up to 4 credits from CIRO Cycle 11 (CIRO-ID and CIRO-MFD)
- Up to 4 CE credits from FP Canada
CE accreditation for this event is pending approval. Attendees must be present for the full event to receive CE credits in-person.
You will receive an email notification from CE Corner when your CE certificate is ready. This can take up to six weeks.
If you do not yet have a profile on CE Corner, you will need to create one to obtain your CE accreditation. If you have any questions, please contact support@cecorner.ca.
Speaker-Hosted Lunch
Join one of our speaker-hosted tables for lunch and continue the conversation in a smaller group setting.
Secure Your In-Person Seat
Access to the Speaker-Hosted Lunch is included with all in-person registrations. Virtual attendees can upgrade to in-person at anytime.
Event Location
Easy to access in the heart of downtown Toronto
Vantage Venues
Vantage Venues is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Toronto making it easily accessible.
Address
150 King St West, 16th Floor
Toronto, ON M5H 1J9
Canada
Room: Garden Hall
Getting There
Click here for detailed instructions on getting to our venue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about attending the event
- ✓ Advisors active in selling ETFs
- ✓ Advisors developing their understanding of the asset category for future sales
Your registration includes:
- ✓ Networking with 150+ professionals, including money managers, fellow advisors and financial journalists from Advisor.ca and Investment Executive
- ✓ Access to leading ETF professionals
- ✓ Breakfast, lunch and refreshments
Refunds are only available up to 24 hours after the initial purchase. Please send an email with "Refund Request" in the subject line to service@newcom.ca within 24 hours of your purchase. Even if we do not reply immediately, your refund will be granted if the request is received within the 24-hour window. It may take up to 14 days for the reversed charge to appear on your statement.
Purchases are transferrable which can be done in the registration portal by September 15, 2026. Should you require additional assistance, please email service@newcom.ca.
Interesting in sponsoring this or future events with us?
Please reach out to Kathy Liotta, Director, Business Development, Financial Group Sales & Marketing at Newcom Media Inc. at kathyl@newcom.ca.
Register for ETFs NOW
Join 150+ financial advisors in-person on October 6, 2026.
- Up to 4 CE credits from CIRO CYCLE 11 (CIRO-ID and CIRO-MFD) and up to 4 credits from FP Canada
Questions? Contact us at service@newcom.ca